Officer's father supports decision

Published 4:00 pm, Wednesday, October 12, 2011

We are happy with the decision of the Superior Court and knew this would be the outcome, but it is unfortunate that Mayor John Harkins chose to use my family as his political football in the 2009 election ("Judge rules for cop," Connecticut Post, Oct. 12). It became the centerpiece of his campaign; not the budget, not taxes, not the condition of the town, just the hiring of my son, Justin LoSchiavo.

He claimed the hiring was political and due to nepotism. He never mentions the process that Justin had to go through up to and including the Police Academy, three months with a field training officer and probation.

It is obvious by the decision of an arbitration panel last year, and Superior Court on Oct. 11 to reinstate Justin that the mayor was wrong in his decision to fire Justin.

The Harkins administration fails to mention that Police Officer Standards and Training Council, the certifying agency for all Connecticut police officers, did its own independent review of the facts and found that Justin's actions did not warrant decertification.

It also supports my claim that his decisions were and are politically motivated.

Harkins continues to remind people that Justin is the son of retired Deputy Chief Joseph J. LoSchiavo and human resources assistant Linda LoSchiavo, but he fails to recognize that because of that fact, Justin's hiring was scrutinized more than the average candidate.

Police officers should be held to a higher standard, and the fact that Justin omitted information to a doctor is not appropriate and not a proud moment; but, to be fair, the town has had officers who have done much worse and not disciplined them to the extent they disciplined Justin.

A person is guaranteed fair and equal treatment under our Constitution -- something the Harkins administration has chosen to ignore.